And albert l



(No Model.) 4

W. E. SMITH 8: A. L. WASHBURN.

COIN CONTROLLED ELECTRICAL WEIGHING SCALE. No. 392,698.

Patented Nov. 18, 1888.

B/U'lfil.

N. PETERS, Pmwlm n m. Washington. 11c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFiCE.

WILLIAM B. SMITH, OF BANDERA, TEXAS, AND ALBERT L. YVASHBURN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.; SAID V ASHBURN ASSIGNOR 'IO SAID SMITH.

COlN-CONTRGLLED ELECTRICAL. WESGl-HNG SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,698, dated November 13,1888.

Application filed September 25, 1880. Serial No. 214,501. (No model.) Patented in Belgium December 31, 1886, No. 75,628; in

Spain February 12, 1887, No. 10,436, and in France April 26, 1887, No. 180,332.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that weflVILLIAM SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bandera, in the county of Bandera and State of Texas, and ALBERT L. WAsHnUnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Yorlgin the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical \Veighing-Scales, (which have been patented to us in the following countries: Belgium,- December 3i, 1886, No. 75,628; Spain, February 12, 1887, No. 10,436, and France, April 26, 1887, No. 180,332,) of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in electrical weighing-scales that may be tripped by electricity; and the main object of our invention is to so arrange the electric circuit that it may be closed for tripping the indicator by inserting within the machine a coin or like-shaped metallic piece.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of so much of a weighingscale as is necessary to show our improvements, the front of the case being removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the case being shown in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a detached side elevation of parts with one side removed, illustrating that portion of the circuit which is completed or closed by a coin; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same, the two latter figures being on an enlarged scale.

Our improvement is adapted for application to ordinary platform weighingscales, the platform being mounted upon any ordinary lever mechanism for such scales, and therefore we deem it unnecessary to illustrate such ordinary mechanism.

Extending from the platform is an upright case,A,within which our mechanism is placed. Extending from the lever mechanism underneath the platform and up through the upright case is a rod or suitable connection, a, which is connected with the movable T-frame b, to which the weighing-springs c c are attached. The opposite ends of these springs are connected with another frame, (I, which is secured to a bracket, 6, at the upper end of the metallic frame B, which frame we secure to the back of the case A in an upright position, as shown. In the middle of this frame is a vertically-sliding rack, f, the teeth of which engage the pinion g, which is attached to the pointershaft It. On the exterior of the case is a suitable dial divided into graduations indicating pounds or fractions thereof, and on the outer end of the shaft h is the pointer x, to indicate the proper weight according to the fall of the rack f. This rack and pinion are fitted to move easily, so that the rack will drop down ward of its own weight when its movement is not obstructed by some object. At the lower end of this rack f and upon the T-shaped frame I) there is a stop in the form of abracket or shelf, t, which the lower end of the rack may rest upon when the springs draw said frame to its uppermost position, or whenever said frame is in a lower position and the falling of the pivoted angle-lever is not prevented by means of the tripping-latch k. This trippinglatch, as shown, is in the form of an anglelever hinged to the frame B at one end, while the opposite end engages a notch, Z, Fig. 1, in the rack f. Ihis latch may be so hung that its weight has a tendency to hold it in engagement with the rack f, and thereby hold the in dicator at zero on the dial. Close to the body of this latch and upon the frame B is an electro-magnct, O. Latch 7; acts as an armature for the magnet O, and is close enough thereto to be pulled out of engagement with the rack when the electromagnet is energized.

To one side of the weighing-springs c c we place a short section of a chute, D, the same being mainly composed of rubber or some nonconducting material, which material forms the two longest sides of said chute-section, while the two moving sides of said chute-section are formed of metal strips or conductors m a, the latter of which constitutes a spring and is curved inward at the lower end, where it is held in place by a latch or weighted lever, 0, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) so as to make the chutesection a little less in width than the diameter of some given size of coin or other metallic disk.

In Fig, 3 the side of the chute-section D is removed in order to show the interior. The shank of the spring a is let into a notch in the chute-section and is further fastened in place by the screwp. The strip at is held within the chute-section at one end by means of the screw q, and is pivoted thereon, so that by turning the screw 1', which bears against one edge of said strip, the width of the aperture at the lower end of the chute-section can be adjusted to any desired size of coin or metallic disk. It is evident that a strip like at, pivoted loosely at the upper end of the chute and slanting inwardly at the bottom, may, without changing the other parts, be substituted for the spring a, which, in substance, is the moving side of the chute. One of the magnetwires, 8, extends through any convenient part of the case to the screw 4 The other magnetwirc, l, extends to a battery, which may be placed in the lower part of the case or at any convenient point therein, while another wire, a, extends from the screw 9 to said battery, thereby connecting said wires with the strips m n. Thus it will be seen that when a propersizcd coin-for instance, a fivecent nickel, 5 is inserted within the chute-section and lodges therein, as shown in Fig. 3, the metallic strips on and a are connected and the electric circuit completed or closed, the coin becoming a part of the circuit, so that the magnet then withdraws the latch is from the notch Z in the rack f and permits said rack to fall. The chute-section Dis designed to be placed at the lower end of any suitable chute or conductor, E, which leads from an aperture on the outside of the case to said chutesection.

By lifting the outer end of the swinging lever 0 the spring or moving side a is allowed to yield and let the coin 5 fall from the chutesection D, from which it may fall or be conducted into any proper receptacle. This leveromight be tripped by hand; but we prefer to trip said lever by means of the weighing mechanism. To the movable T-shaped frame I) we rigidly secure a laterally-extending arm, '0, so that said arm will rise and fall with saidframe b. To the frame B we attach by one of its ends a swinging arm, F, at the other end of which is a jointed end, 10, provided with astop-joint, so that it cannot move beyond a certain point on its pivot when the swinging arm F is moved upward, but may be allowed to turn on its pivot freely when the arm F is lowered.

A person standing on the platform will depress the lever mechanism and, through the rod a, pull the frame b and its shelf or bracket t downward more or less, according to his weight. The latch k, engaging the notch in the rack, will hold said rack in its elevated position, and therefore the pointer x will not revolve to indicate the persons weight upon the dial. In pulling down the frame I) the arm 1; moves downward with it and allows the swinging arm F to fall below lever 0, which it trips on its return. In thus falling the jointed end w turns backward on its pivot to pass the end of the weighted lever o. By inserting a nickel in the aperture left in the case for that purpose it will pass through the conductor E into the chute-section D and complete or close the circuit through the coin becoming a part thereof, so that the magnet will withdraw the latch from the notch Z and allow the rack to fall until it is stopped by the shelf or bracket i at the proper point to indicate by means of the dial and hand the correct weight of the person standing on the plat-form. WVhen the person steps off the platform, the springs c c raise the frame I) to its former position, thereby carrying the laterally-extending arm 22 upward, and said arm 12 carries the swinging arm F upward, so as to trip the weighted lever 0 and let the nickel 5 fall from the chute-section, said swinging arm passing the end of the lever 0 and into position for another action, as shown in Fig. 3. At the same time the shelf or bracketi on the frame I) carries the rack upward again into its former position, where it is again held in place by the latch 70, and the parts are ready for repeating the operation.

The distinctive feature of our independent rack consists in the fact that it has no permanent attachment to any part of the mechanism-that is to say, it is free to move independently either of the frame or of the bearlugs.

'We are aware that a prior patent shows a weighing-machine constructed in such manner that the act of placing a coin in the a'ppa ratus will cause the weight then on the scales to be indicated on the dial, the result being accomplished wholly by mechanical devices without the aid of an electric current. Such an apparatus, broadly considered, is hereby disclaimed.

WVe are also aware that other prior patents show devices for registering toll and other money, in which a coin or like metallic piece placed Within a chute operates to trip a mechanical device, and, broadly considered, we do not claim the same.

\Vhile we have shown our mechanism as applied to weighing-scales, we do not wish to limit ourselves to such scales as to all features of our invention, because it is evident that some parts of our invention, especially the chute-section, can be applied to various me ehanieal devices, which may be tripped by electricity.

In this application we do not claim the de-' tails of the chute and of the latch mechanism, such claims forming part of our divisional application filed May 4, 1887, Serial No. 237,026.

\Ve claim as our invention- 1. The combination of a weighingscale, an independent rack, an indicator actuated by the rack, connecting mechanism between the scales and rack, whereby the movement of the rack is controlled, and mechanism for locking and releasing the rack.

2. The combination of a weighing scale, an independent rack, an indicator actuated by the rack, connecting mechanism between the scales and rack, a retaining device to retain IZO said rack, tripping mechanism for releasing the rack, and stop mechanism, substantially for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a weighing-scale, a moving frame, an independent rack, indicating mechanism actuated thereby, a retaining device to retain said rack, and trip mechanism for releasing and stop mechanism for stopping the rack, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a weighingseale, a moving frame, indicating mechanism, an independent rack, a retaining device to retain said rack, and electrically-operated releasing mechanism to release the rack.

5. The combination of a weighing-scale, indicating mechanism, a rack, connecting mechanism between the rack and the indicating mechanism, the frame I), and means for suspending the rack after the weight on the platform has carried down said frame I) and connecting mechanism with said frame 11, sub stautially as described.

6. The combination of the moving frame I), having the shelf or bracket i, mechanism for operating said frame, the vertically-sliding rack f, adapted to engage said shelf or bracket, the pointer-shaft and pinion h g, and the tripping-latch It, for engaging said rack, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination of the frame having the shelf or bracket 1', mechanism for operating said frame, the vertical] y-sliding rack f, pointer-shaft and pinion h g, the tripping-latch It, for engaging said rack, the electro-magnet in juxtaposition with said latch, the chute-section D, and suitable connections with the magnet for supplying the electric current, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination of an indicator, its operating-pinion and rack, the main portion of the weighing mechanism disconnected from said rack, a stop secured to and moving with said main portion of the weighing mechanism to limit the movement of the indicatonrack when released, and a trippinglatch for holding the indicator at zero when engaged therewith and for releasing the rack when disengaged therefrom, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

S). The combination ofa weighingmachinc having an indicator, a latch holding the parts that operate the indicator, the electromagnet in juxtaposition with said latch, the chutesection D, and suitable connection with the magnet for supplying the electric current, substantially as described, and for the purpose specifled.

WILLIAM R. SMITH. ALBERT L. XVASHBURN. Witnesses:

WM. STEVENSON, F. Roonoo.

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